Daniel g



(No Model.)

D. G. MQLELLAN.

APPARATUS FOR CURING TOBACCO. No. 332,729. Patented Dec. 22, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL G. MOLELLAN, OF RHODES, NORTH CAROLINA.

APPARATUS FOR CURING TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,729, dated December 22, 1885.

Application filed November 9, 1885. Serial No. 182,295. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL G. lVICLELLAN, of Rhodes, in the county of Cumberland and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Curing Tobacco; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for curing tobacco, the object be ing to provide an improved construction whereby the curing capacity of the barn or store-house may be greatly increased, the risk of fire greatly lessened, and the ordinary cumbersome net-work of timbers and wooden cross-bars entirely dispensed with; and my improvements consist of a metallic frame provided with metallic bars arranged transversely thereon and adapted to receive the looped ends of a series of metallic crossrods, which hold the stalks of tobacco.

Hy improvements further consist of a novel device for placing the stalks of tobacco upon the metallic cross-rods, as also for removing the same therefrom, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically designated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my improvements, and Fig. 2 a front elevation of the de vice for placing the stalks of tobacco upon the cross-rods.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the main frame of my improved construction, which is preferably composed of flat metallic bars arranged around the sides of the barn or storehouse.

B represents smaller rods or bars arranged transversely thereon and at suitable distances apart, which are adapted to receive and support the smaller cross-rods O, the ends of which are provided with loops or hooks a, to loosely clasp the said bars B, as shown. The smaller cross-rods 0 may be pushed compactly together upon the one end of the bars B when not in use, so as to be out of the way.

In the operation of hanging the stalks of tobacco upon the said cross-rods O the rods may be pushed or moved forward upon the frame B, one after the other, and spaced at suitable distances apart, according to the thickness of the tobacco-plants. The sharppointed end of a hook, b, which is preferably of an S shape, is inserted in the butt of each tobacco-stalk and the opposite end of said hook adjusted upon the cross-bar of the hanging device E until a sufficient number of stalks are in position thereon. The hanging device is then lifted up by the handle until the rear upper ends of the hooks b can be caught over upon one of the cross-rods 0, when, by drawing the hanging device downward, the row of tobacco stalks is left suspended upon the said cross-rod. This hanging device E is composed of a suitable handle, 0, provided at its upper end with a wire crossframe, d, with raised projections d at each end, to prevent the stalks of tobacco from slipping off the same. Below the top of the handle 0 is also attached a crossframe, e, having its ends bent outwardly at right angles to its length, to provide a rest or support for the lower ends of the tier of tobacco-stalks until they are adjusted in position upon the crossrods 0. The hanging device E is also equally applicable for readily removing the tobaccostalks from the cross-rods for the purpose of stripping the same when cured.

The advantages of my improvements will be readily seen without a more minute description, the construction being such as to facilitate the operation of curing tobacco in the simplest and best possible manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and useful 1. The herein-described apparatus for ouring tobacco, consisting of the frames A, transverse frames B, and cross-rods 0, provided with looped ends a, for engagement with trans verse frames B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an apparatus for curing tobacco, the hanging device E, consisting of the handle 0, provided with cross-frames d and e, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL MOLELLAN.

WVitnesses:

THOMAS H. SUTTON, J. W. LEE. 

